Japan to waste more money on Afghanistan

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japan plans additional $5 billion for Afghanistan

Japan on Tuesday announced $5 billion in fresh aid to Afghanistan even as it plans to bring home refueling ships supporting U.S.-led forces there. The pledge comes just days before President Barack Obama arrives in Tokyo for talks that are sure to focus on the countries' military alliance.

The announcement appears to be a way for Japan, which is barred from sending troops for combat by its pacifist constitution, to show support for Afghanistan's reconstruction while Obama reviews his options for a new strategy in the conflict.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's government, which wants to put Tokyo's ties with Washington on more equal footing, doesn't plan to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean when it ends in January, partly because it lacks a mandate from the United Nations. Some members of Hatoyama's party also say the mission violates the country's constitution. (more)

[IkemenTommy]

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's government, which wants to put Tokyo's ties with Washington on more equal footing, doesn't plan to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean when it ends in January, partly because it lacks a mandate from the United Nations. Some members of Hatoyama's party also say the mission violates the country's constitution.

What? Why?
I thought the Minshithead platform was the exact opposite and they were going to severe all ties with the US.

[Greji]

What? Why?
I thought the Minshithead platform was the exact opposite and they were going to severe all ties with the US.

That platform depends upon the day of the week...

[Tsuru]

Yeah, that'll help. NATO has been reconstructing it for 6.5 years now and look where it is today...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Yeah, that'll help. NATO has been reconstructing it for 6.5 years now and look where it is today...

The best way to deal with Afghanistan would be an exterminator.

[FG Lurker]

That platform depends upon the day of the week...

I thought it depended on what his wife's alien buddies said...

[BO-SENSEI]

China may take over refueling
The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Chinese Navy is considering taking over the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that ended Friday, according to government sources.

If it does take over the mission, China will increase its presence in the key sea-lane, where Japan is transporting crude oil from the Middle East, a development that is likely to draw criticism of the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, which decided to terminate the mission.

According to the government sources, a confidential Chinese government document states that the navy is undergoing training in preparation for a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.

The sources also said that when the MSDF's refueling mission was suspended in November 2007, a party connected to the Chinese Navy unofficially sounded out the U.S. government on taking over the mission. However, the United States did not accept the proposal at that time.

Japan's refueling mission was suspended after the Antiterrorism Law, which provided a legal basis for the operation, expired due to resistance from the Democratic Party of Japan and other parties then in opposition.

China has aggressively been conducting military operations in waters around the Middle East, dispatching its vessels to conduct antipiracy missions in waters off Somalia.

The country is believed to wish to further boost its influence in the Middle East through the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, according to the government sources.

From the perspective of achieving energy security, China aims at stabilizing the route to procure oil from the Middle East, the sources said.

Some government officials had insisted that Japan should not stop the refueling mission because China was ready to assume responsibility for it. However, the Hato-yama administration decided to terminate the operation, insisting that it was losing significance.

Now that China is believed to be keen to perform the mission, some have voiced concern that Japan is set to hand over to China a duty that serves Japan's national interests.
(Jan. 17, 2010)

Personally, I couldn't think of a better way to end this, it makes the Chinese, with their ever increasing navy, get on same page of the US interests in bring stability to the Middle East and it makes Japan look weak and uninterested in participating in world affairs. Your move Japan.